Saint Sebastian - Black Chalk Drawing - Italy 18th Century

Black chalk drawing depicting Saint Sebastian, after the famous marble sculpture made in 1668 by Pierre Puget for the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta in Genoa, Liguria (Italy).

This drawing, executed with great precision, appears to have been made on the spot, directly in the Genoese church. The sketch of the architectural decoration, particularly that of the niche housing the statue as well as its base, reinforces this hypothesis. These details suggest a careful observation of the work in situ, which suggests that the author of the drawing did not simply copy an engraving or a reproduction, but confronted the original. It could be the work of a traveling artist, perhaps French, who undertook a study trip to Italy during the 18th century—as was customary for artists in training or in search of inspiration. By stopping in Genoa, he would have sought to immerse himself in the great masterpieces of Italian Baroque sculpture, and in particular the dramatic expressiveness specific to the style of Pierre Puget, a major sculptor of the 17th century, originally from Marseille, but deeply influenced by Italian art.

Saint Sebastian, black stone drawing on paper in an old gilded wooden frame.
Folds.

Size
Sheet: 50 x 24 cm Frame: 72.5 x 46.5 x cm